GUILDFORD,U.K- When Taras Foremsky moved from Peterborough Phantoms to Guildford Flames in 2007 after a season and eight games in Cambridgeshire, he faced a new challenge on the ice. He also had other challenges to work out off the ice, but more on that later.
On or off the ice it always business (Photo by Paul Young)
Since the Flames joined the EPL, after the collapse of the higher British National League in 2005, they have always been viewed as the ‘big boys’ and the ‘money men’ and certainly the team every other team in the league wanted to beat. However since that initial season in 2005-06, the EPL sides have caught up with the Flames and the other BNL side, Bracknell Bees.
It has become a lot closer at the top of the table and this season is very open and no-one is certain of winning a game. I asked Foremsky what he thought the reason was for the change in stature of the league and why clubs are catching up and overtaking Guildford.
” Last season was hugely successful for me as being a part of the title winning side was a fantastic achievement. As for Guildford falling off pace this season as the dominate force I feel it’s a credit to the other teams and the junior system within the UK,” Foremsky said
Celebrating one of many goals scored at Peterborough (Photo by Paul Young)
The 28 year old came to the UK after successful spells in the ECHL, CHL and a couple of seasons in Europe. I asked Foremsky what his reasons were for coming to the UK
“Playing hockey in Europe was always my second dream, my first growing up in Canada was always to play in the NHL but to make a living at hockey is a dream to every young Canadian who gets up at 6am with parents and laces up the skates every cold morning,” Foremsky said “I love the pace of the game in the UK and it shows a more North American style hockey game then other EU countries, I often wish I would have come here earlier.”
The future also looks bright for the EPL younger players and Foremsky selected the following three players as his stars of the future as both players he has played alongside or against.
” My three top picks for the future of the game in the UK are Craig Peacock, who has turned last season into a distant memory and turned into one of the finest goal scorers and players in the EPL. Steven Lee is one of the best all round defence men in the EPL and can score with a rocket of a shot,” Foremsky said “He can throw out bone crushing mid ice hits, and has the vision of 10 year pro. My last pick is Matty Davies who also a great play maker, he is as fast as anyone in the league and a knack for finding the back of the net.”
You may remember from earlier in the article, I said that Foremsky also faced other challenges off the ice. Well, Foremsky picks up the story of his life away from ice hockey for the last three years.
” In 2006 my father came to me with the Idea of starting a new business. My father has owned and operated a successful meat and produce distribution company for 30 years, I have always had a job growing up, but didn’t think my life would turn out the way it did. I didn’t think I had it in me to be a salesman and to someday take over my father’s distribution company,” Foremsky said “From day one of my pro hockey career I decided that the best way for me to get ahead in life was to invest half of everything I made into something I believed in, my Father. In 2006 we expanded our distribution company into owning our first butcher shop ‘Second To None Meats’ in Calgary. We decided to go the route of all natural, no steroid or hormone beef, something very new to Canada but not the UK.”
Foremsky continued; “After playing hockey for five years and giving my father every cent I had available, I was now a proud investor in a growing company. I soon started to work at my shop and learned the trade of being a butcher and a manager. In one year I was made co-manager of my store,” Foremsky said “We soon opened up store number two with the backing investment of an EPL hockey player, and in six months opened up our third and biggest store with another large sum from yours truly. In one year I went from small investor to the highest investor, and trust me I am paying and playing for it,”
Foremsky is now beginning to look longer term and his life away from the UK hockey.
” 2008 saw ‘Second to None Meats’ surpass the C$2million turnover mark and secure the rights to the greatest show on earth – The Calgary Stampede. For 11 days in July our business supplies the high end restaurants located on the grounds with over C$250,000 worth of the highest grade AAA Alberta natural beef,” Foremsky said “We also have many high end restaurants we supply with our product all year round. This summer the plan is to open the first of many new restaurants that will sell only our products, our future plans look very bright and we are looking into opening two more stores in Edmonton Alberta the original home of my parents and my wife,” Foremsky said “To do so I fear my hockey career may be at an end soon as the work load will be too great for just my father, we have a five year plan for me to take over all the stores, the distribution company and Canadian Celtic, the Ranch from where our cattle come from.”
Surely it must be hard for Foremsky to be involved in such a large growing business, when he is over 5,000 miles away?
” Being away from such a huge part of my life is very hard, my partners and I have a strong relationship and I am still very much involved with every decision even though I am so far away. I created a new website on my own with the help of an old line mate from junior hockey who taught me how to run a successful website and manage it from across the pond,” Foremsky said ” www.stnm.ca is my sole job while over here, but I leave the little things to my father who I know is keen to have me come home and take over permanently. In the summers my days are long and my time is split between work and training, most days running one of the shops or taking trips to our farm and seeing that our cattle are of the highest grade and standard, also being there after they are processed and grading them ourselves.”
Things obviously look very promising away from the ice for the Calgary native and former NCAA player, but how does he see his short term plans being balanced with the EPL title run-in that the Flames are very much a part of and what his plans are for next season.
“I’m excited for this part of my life to start but not sure I am ready to hang up the skates for the boardroom. My father may have to wait a little longer, but nothing is set in stone,” Foremsky said “Guildford has been so great to my wife and I for the past year and to play for them has been a true privilege and they are the classiest organization I have come across in my career.”
Photo by Paul Young
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